China Performs Well as Global Crypto Industry Employment Surpasses 190,000

South Korean blockchain research firm Four Pillars has secured KRW 700 million (approximately $527,000) in investment funds from Kakao Ventures, Hashed and Bass Investment, according to South Korean news site Coin Readers on Tuesday.Photo by Precondo CA on UnsplashEmpowering blockchain venturesLed by a team of industry experts, Four Pillars is dedicated to supporting companies that aim to develop blockchain projects and successfully bring their business to the market. It conducts research based on its technological expertise and experience in blockchain collaborations, providing customized solutions based on each client’s circumstances. It aims to save time and money for companies looking to enter the blockchain market by providing comprehensive and relevant insights on cryptocurrency basics, the blockchain industry, regulations and market analyses, rather than simply listing information. Rapid growth and strategic partnershipsSince its establishment last year, the research platform has attracted more than 30,000 visitors per month on average in just two months. The company has also signed an agreement with Japanese publishing agency Gentosha to publish a Japanese version of its content. Other partners include the layer 1 blockchain Sei Network, Web3 gaming platform Iskra, tech juggernaut LINE’s blockchain Finschia, and Korean telecommunications provider SKT's digital T Wallet.  Before securing the recent investment, the Four Pillars team was recognized for collaborating with various developers on global blockchain projects and receiving a research sponsorship from the dYdX Foundation, a decentralized protocol operator known for being highly selective when offering sponsorships. "The core members of Four Pillars, including CEO Kim Nam-woong, are among the few people in the Korean crypto scene who can bring unique insights to research," said Brian Jang, Director at Kakao Ventures. "Based on their unrivaled research capabilities, we expect them to grow rapidly while connecting domestic and international protocols and corporate needs to business outcomes." Bridging markets, breaking barriersAs trends in the global blockchain market change at a rapid pace, the importance of high-quality, relevant research is amplified, even more so than in the era of Web2. However, information tends to be scattered across platforms, making it overwhelmingly difficult for companies to utilize it in their business endeavors. This is also one of the key reasons why overseas companies have a hard time navigating their entry into the Korean market with their limited knowledge of market trends or conditions. The same can be said for Korean companies who want to launch their businesses overseas. By bridging Korean and overseas companies and projects, Four Pillars aims to resolve this widespread information asymmetry in the ever-growing blockchain industry and establish its foothold as a global research firm. This is reminiscent of Delphi Digital, a U.S.-based crypto research firm founded in 2018 that quickly expanded and established a global Web3 accelerator service called Delphi Labs.  The Four Pillars team also aims to dedicate the investment funds towards accelerating its efforts in talent acquisition, product development and continued research. In the future, the company plans to boost diverse blockchain projects and contribute to the participation of various stakeholders in the blockchain ecosystem.  "Our priority and goal is to create a developer-friendly environment by leveraging the high-quality research and products that we provide at Four Pillars," the firm’s CEO said. "We will lower the barriers to entry for blockchain and grow the entire Web3 market by making it more suitable for both users and developers."

Turkey crafts new crypto regulations with FATF grey list removal objectiveIn an effort to secure removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) “grey list,” Turkey is in the process of crafting new regulations governing crypto assets.The FATF, established by the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies, serves as a guardian of the international financial system. It’s an international organization dedicated to combating financial crimes, which added Turkey to its “grey list” in 2021. In 2019, it cautioned Turkey about significant deficiencies in procedures for freezing assets linked to terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.Photo by Michael Jerrard on UnsplashCrypto compliance for FATF upgradeTurkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek recently discussed this matter with a parliamentary commission, according to a report published by Reuters. Simsek highlighted the FATF’s evaluation of Turkey’s adherence to 39 out of the 40 standards set by the organization. The single outstanding issue pertains to crypto assets, and Simsek revealed plans to introduce a crypto assets law in parliament to address this concern. However, he did not delve into specific legal changes.The Turkish government is taking action to align with international standards and remove the shadow of the “grey list.” The Turkish Presidential Annual Program for 2024, as published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Turkey on October 25, outlines a commitment to establish comprehensive cryptocurrency regulations in the country by the end of 2024. Within the extensive 500-page document, Article 400.5 sets the goal of providing clear definitions for crypto assets, potentially subjecting them to taxation in the future.Additionally, the document seeks to establish legal definitions for crypto asset providers, including cryptocurrency exchanges. However, it refrains from specifying the finer details of the upcoming regulatory framework.Crypto popularityTurkey has been an outlier in terms of cryptocurrency use by comparison with many of its international peers. A report by KuCoin earlier this year validated that reality, indicating a significant increase in the number of crypto investors in Turkey over the course of the previous 18 months. In the aftermath of a devastating earthquake which hit the country on Feb. 6, crypto was reported to have been used as a means to get aid to those affected quickly and easily.However, developments in the crypto space have also included difficulties. It was reported in July that the use of crypto for the earthquake relief effort in Turkey was also being used as a cover by an affiliate of the terrorist group ISIS to launder money and receive funding. Turkish users of the Thodex crypto exchange platform were the victims of fraud in 2021, with the founders of that business having been sentenced for that fraud in September. In 2021 the country moved to ban crypto payments against a background that has seen the Turkish lira experience hyper-inflation.CBDC developmentTurkey’s central bank has been making strides in the digital currency arena, successfully conducting the initial trial of its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital lira, by December 2022. The central bank has expressed its intention to continue testing and exploring digital currency development throughout 2024.The move to enhance regulation and compliance in the crypto sector in Turkey aligns with global efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in financial systems.

The joint virtual asset crime investigation unit of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office announced the arrest of three executives from South Korean cryptocurrency yield platform Haru Invest, according to a report by local news agency Yonhap. They are accused of embezzling cryptocurrencies valued at over 1 trillion Korean won ($750 million).Photo by niu niu on UnsplashFraud lawsuitThis development comes after approximately 100 investors filed a fraud lawsuit in June against the executives of Haru and Delio, another Korean crypto lending firm.  The three leading executives of Haru, one aged 44 and the other two aged 40, are facing fraud charges for failing to return cryptocurrencies deposited by around 16,000 customers.Misleading promotionsInvestigations uncovered that Haru Invest was offering misleading promotions for its products. Despite assurances that it utilized a risk-free, diversified investment strategy to manage user assets, Haru Invest predominantly allocated the majority of these assets towards concentrated investments from March 2020 to June 2023. Haru Invest had garnered attention from crypto investors, promising an annual return of up to 12%.  Subsequently, on June 13, Haru halted the withdrawal of digital assets without prior notice. The platform is currently in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings.  Delio, having allocated some of its assets with Haru, also came under public scrutiny that same month when it ceased withdrawals just a day following Haru's questionable action.